Part 338: The Deal

Inside the white room, the four men had reached a point of silence. They weren’t even sure what time it was. Inman was reviewing all his notes he had been scribbling down. McKay had shifted his chair over into a corner, allowing him to prop his head up against the wall easily. John was on his side of table, using his right arm to prop up his head. Tony was laying his head on the table, using his arm as a rest. Inman then looked to them again. “So, you managed to get the drop on a good portion of the Liberation,” he whispered, “ By luring them out to a field when you laced with dynamite and the young girl . . .what’s her name?”

“Taylor.” McKay whispered.

“Taylor through a grenade into this field, causing an explosion which caused a chain reaction to set off the dynamite and kill . ..how many of them?”

“At least thirty.” John yawned.

“And where did you get this dynamite again?”

“On a ship called Black Rock.” Tony muttered with his head still on the table.

“Where did this ship come from?”

“We don’t know, “ the blind man continued, “By all indications of what our friends told us, it was some kind of slave ship.”

“Slave ship?”

“Yeah, transporting slaves from somewhere.”

“So you’re saying .. .this dynamite . . .was probably over a hundred years old, since the very idea of slave transport hasn’t been around since then?”

Tony leaned up his head and motioned with his hands toward Inman in mock praise. “Wow, John, I think he’s got it.” He said sarcastically.

The archer chuckled, as he was too tired for a authentic laugh. Inman then leaned forward, getting more and more upset. “You need to stop screwing with me.” He hissed.

“Hey, don’t blame me. I TOLD YOU . . .you wouldn’t believe a single word of it.”

“Let’s get back to Belmont, Largo,” he grunted, “You say you killed him?”

“Yeah, I said that.”

“How again?”

“I wrestled with his gun and it went off, taking his head with it.”

“And if I went back to that Island and searched for his body, I’d find it.”

“Not in any decent state any more. When he saw his body again, the majority of him had been eaten by boars.”

“And why were you leaving your beach?”

“To find a more hospitable one.”

“Why?”

“I done told you, moron!” Tony grunted, “Two of our friends had died on that beach at the hands of that Embry bastard. We didn’t want to stay there anymore!”

“And I don’t believe for one second you killed Belmont. You are blind.”

“Yes, I am blind but I am gifted.”

“How?”

“Put your pen down on the table, somewhere.”

“Huh?” Inman blinked.

Tony then took off his sunglasses. He closed his good eye and made sure to keep it closed. “Put your pen down on the table, anywhere.” He ordered him.

Inman then clicked his pen and put it down. Tony then reached over and picked it up immediately. He handed it back to the operative. “Do it again.” He told him.

Inman then placed his pen down on the left. Tony reached over and found it easily. Inman took it from it and placed it else where. The blind man grabbed it again. They repeated this over and over for a few second, much to John’s amusement. Inman then placed it down but then picked it right back up, and then quietly set it down in front of him. Tony paused for a second, then slowly reached over to the original location but then turned to grab the pen. The operative then grabbed the doctor’s hand in frustration. “How are you doing that?” he demanded.

“He told you, he’s gifted.” McKay smirked.

“My senses increased when my sight was taken from me. It’s natural for the body to compensate. I felt the pressure give in the table.”

“This. . .this . . this is too fantastic to believe, “ he said, standing up, “It’s almost if all of you . . .all your skills and your knowledge . ..was brought together perfectly. It’s too much to be coincidence, it’s almost . . .like . . .like . . .”

“Fate?” Tony finished for him.

Inman stared at all of them. They just simply returned the gaze. The agent rubbed his face and then came back to sit down. “I want to talk some more about Fender.” He coughed.

Tony then reached over and clicked off the tape recorder. “I think you’ve heard enough.” He hissed.

“I’ll say when I have heard enough, Sergeant.” The man replied quickly.

“We’ve told you everything you need to know about the Liberation. We’ve even identified the name of their leader for you, what more do you want from us?”

“How about proof?” he grunted.

The three men paused. They were the truth of the amazing story and at that moment, he wanted proof? Tony was growing frustrated. He was too tired and wanted this problem to come to it’s final end. “Well, we don’t have proof, Inman,” he groaned, “We burned the bodies and the camp was destroyed in the ensuing battle. So, you’re up the creek without a paddle.”

“That’s unfortunate.” He sighed, bending his eyebrows end.

“Now, I want to speak to Admiral Wilcox about getting our friends off that Island.”

“This vessel is in the South Pacific to search for the Liberation. We’re not here to rescue civilians.”

“It is the job of the Navy to protect American citizens.” Tony retorted.

“Until I am certain you three are not in the Liberation, then you stay in this room until I say otherwise. And the President will be on my side about this.”

Inman got up to leave. Tony gritted his teeth, understanding why the agent was doing what he needed to be doing; blinded as it was. John then snapped his fingers. “Inman, wait.” He said.

The agent paused and turned to look at the archer. John looked at him in complete seriousness. “What if I could get you the proof you need?” he asked.

“John, what are you talking about?” Tony said, “There was no personal aspect of the Liberation we brought back with us.”

“No, we didn’t but Locke did.”

“Locke?” Inman paused, “Which one of your group is he?”

“He’s not with our group. He’s still on the Island.” McKay pointed out.

“He’s an older gentlemen, very wise but also curious.” John pointed out, “While we were searching the camp for supplies and ways to stay alive, he was searching for clues to The Liberation. He found it in Fender’s journal.”

Inman took a swallow in his throat and backed away from the door. “He’s got the Colonel’s journal?” he asked.

“Yeah, and I sure he’d be willing to give it up for safe passage back home.”

“There’s your deal, Inman,” Tony said, “You tell the Admiral and the Captain of this vessel if they get our friends off the Island, we’ll get you that journal.”

Inman paused, letting his left eye twitch. He wasn’t sure it was a trick or not. But thanks to the policies and the obligations of his agency, he had to take the chance. “All right,” he whispered, “You got a deal but if any of you are lying to me-“

“Jesus, Inman, we’re not.” Tony grunted.

“Well, we’re going to see.” He said, still in serious mode, “If that Island does hold a trap for us, you wouldn’t be willing to put one of those pretty young girls in harms way, would you?”

“Of course not,” McKay pointed out.

“The two of you will come with us but you pick one of them to come as well. If it’s a trap, then I guarantee you’ll regret it. “

The man then turned and began to walk out of the room. He told the guards standing outside the interrogation room to allow the three friends to go rejoin their comrades. As the guards motioned for Tony, John and McKay to leave; John grumbled “hard-ass” under his breath. The blind man was also concerned; wondering which girl they would take with them. They all knew full well there was no trap but to satisfy the need of the CIA agent, and to get their friends back; they felt the need to comply. But the question remained; which girl will go with them?



“I’ll do it.” Mia said.

Tony paused in his speech. He stood with his three friends in the mess hall as it turned out, the large group of friends refused to go to their bunks until the three men were released from their debriefing. The blind man walked over toward the young Lakota girl. “Mia, are you sure?” he asked.

“Yeah, I don’t mind, really.” She confessed.

“You sure, Mia?” John raised in eyebrow, “I don’t feel comfortable letting you get near this Inman guy.”

“I’ll be fine, John. Besides, you’ll be there won’t you?”

“Then it’s settled, “ McKay said, “Tony, John and Mia will join them to bring back our friends.”

“Dude, this is happening too fast, “ Hurley jumped, “Mia, why are you going?”

“I have too, Hurley,” she said, “I don’t want anybody to get left behind.”

“It makes sense. With us on board, then the guys will believe we are not coming back with the Liberation instead of marines.” John pointed.

“I hadn’t thought of that.” Tony massaged his chin, “Yeah, this is a good idea.”

“Okay, then you’ll guys will do it.” Marita mentioned.

“Wonderful, Chica con queso, “ Sawyer yawned, “Can we go back to our bunks now?”

John motioned for the guards that they were ready to go. The guard began to escort the people from the cafeteria. Marita came over to Tony and gently embraced him; enjoying the feel of his chest on her head. “Marita, can I ask you a question?” he said, “Just to satisfy my curiosity.”

“Just, hon.” She whispered.

“Normally, I can’t get you to leave my side.” He giggled, “why . .why didn’t you volunteer to come back with me?”

“Because I know you’re stronger than me and honestly, Tony . . . I can’t go back there.”

No other words were needed. Tony pulled her closer and let his chin rest on her head. The lovers held each for a few minutes before proceeding to finally leave the mess hall. As John and Mia made their way out of the room into the hallway, the archer looked at his young love. “You sure about this?” he asked.

“Absolutely,” she said with conviction.

“I would have done it, you know?”

“Done what, John?”

“Made sure Locke got on that helicopter.” The archer pointed out.

Mia gently smiled. John immediately saw through her reason to join them on the excursion tomorrow. “I know you would have, John,” she rubbed his arm, “But this is something I need to do, okay?”

“Okay,” he said, letting it be put to rest.

“I wonder how Andra and Flower are going to react to a helicopter.”

“How do you think?” the Olympian laughed, “ They’ll freak.”

The couple chuckled with their personal joke as they continued on down the hallways toward their designated sleeping area.



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